DYSLEXIA

A: Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin.

It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and / or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
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DYSLEXIA AT A GLANCE

• Specific learning disability in reading
• Difficulties with accurate word recognition, decoding, & spelling
• Poor reading fluency
• Is neurological
• Not the result of poor instruction

STATISTICS

• 10 to 15% of US has dyslexia
• 5 out of every 100 are recognized
• 60% of ADHD are also dyslexic
• 44 million adults with lowest literacy
• Limits ability to find work & jobs

SIGNS OF DYSLEXIA

• Recognizing letters
• Matching letters to sound
• Pronouncing words
• Correctly using vocabulary words
• Learning the alphabet

SIGNS OF DYSLEXIA

• Rules of spelling
• Remembering facts & numbers
• Handwriting
• Following sequence

SIGNS OF DYSLEXIA

• Reading at expected level
• Understanding non-literal language
• Reading aloud
• Organizing & managing time
• Summarizing a story

IDENTIFYING DYSLEXIA

• Trained professionals doing formal evaluation
• Understand and use spoken & written language
• Underlying skills needed for reading

SOME FACTS

• Affects at least 1 out of 5 chidren in US
• Affects as many girls as boys
• Early intervention is essential
• Is due to difficulty processing language
• Children do not outgrow dyslexia

SOME FACTS

• Children who display reading problems in 1st grade
• 74% will be struggling in 9th grade unless they
• receive informed and explicit phonemic instruction

SOME FACTS

• Dyslexics need to be provided with..
• highly structured programs
• explicit instruction to apply speech sounds to print

INstruction that works

• Multi-senory instruction
• See it
• Hear it
• Say it
• Touch it

What to do about it

• Greater intensity of instruction
• Increased frequency & duration of instruction
• Research based instruction

Facets of instruction

• Phonemic awareness
• Phonics
• Fluency
• Vocabulary
• Comprehension

Facets of instruction

• Writing
• Spelling

Book worth reading

• Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete
• Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at any Level
• Dr. Sally Shaywitz

Assistive Technology
Assistive technology device means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a child with a disability. The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of that device. (34 CFR §300.5)

Print Disability

• Blind/Visual Impairment
• Motor Impairment
• Dyslexia-Reading Disability

Reading Resources

• Learning Ally
• Bookshare

Reading Tools

• Learning Ally app
• Voice Dream app
• Read2Go app

Writing Tools

• Clicker Docs app
• Co:Writer app
• iReadWrite
• iWordQ
• SIRI- Speech recognition

Graphic Organizers

• Popplet app
• Kidspiration Maps app
• Inspiration Maps app

Optical Character Recognition

• IRISRead
• Prizmo

Brian S. Friedlander, Ph.D.